A MOTHER who lost her newborn son after he was born prematurely is planning to cycle the journey he never made home from hospital in his honour.

Nikki Bourne and her partner Paul Lewis, from Upton-upon-Severn, were devastated when their “beautiful baby boy” George died just 12 hours after being born at 25 weeks in the neonatal unit at Birmingham Women’s Hospital in January.

However, in the brief time that George was alive they were bowled-over by the support and professionalism of the staff who cared for him, and so Miss Bourne wanted to do something to say thank you and raise money for the hospital.

On Sunday she will be getting on her bike and cycling all the way from the hospital to Upton, more than 40 miles away.

She will be accompanied by her sister Donna Bourne and friends Jenny and Hayley Ward, while Mr Lewis will be cheering them on from an escort car travelling in front.

“George never got to come home and so I decided that we would make the trip for him. It is the journey that he should have taken. I don’t think that you realise just how incredible the work that neonatal staff do is until you experience it yourself.

“Their efforts and the help and care they gave us, and the support that we received from them afterwards, were just outstanding.”

Miss Bourne, who is 29 and has two other children, Oliver, age six, and Joseph, three, said Sunday’s ride would be poignant, however she is also nervous and excited about the challenge.

“We are not experienced cyclists but we have been training hard since February and we will finish it,” she said.

They will be setting off at 8.30am and hope to arrive at their destination, Upton’s historic Pepperpot, between 3-4pm.

They are already well on their way to their fund-raising target of £1,000 and anyone who would like to support them can donate online at justgiving.com/ nichola-bourne.